System for controlling machinery and associated elements



Nov. 10, 1964 M. J. HARNISH ETAL 3,156,204

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MACHINERY AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 31, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. .z.

I NVEN TORS I BY (2 4 1964 M. J. HARNISH ETAL 3,156,204

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MACHINERY AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 31. 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 w 2 m I .q 1 v 9 8 /N/ W v 5 x W 3 9- F MW 0 w m 1: 9 mm m mg m 8 mM/ a 9 a WeM w 3% 0 MM M 2 1 G I 0 n Men M 4 w m Nov. 10, 1964 M. J. HARNISH ETAL 3,156,204

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MACHINERY AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS Filed Aug. 31, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS g //9 /25 Amer/N =1 Awe/was;

Filed Aug. 31, 1962 Nov. 10, 1964 M. .1. HARNISH ETAL 3, 56, 0

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING MACHINERY AND ASSOCIATED ELEMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [IO-VAC.

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United States Patent 3,156,204 SYSTEM FQR CONTRGLLING MACHINERY AND ASSGCIATED ELEMENTS Martin J. Hamish, Carlisle, and Roy E. Miller, Mechanicshurg, Pa., assignors to General Automated Machinery Corporation, Carlisle, Pa.

Filed Aug. 31, 1962, Ser. No. 226,660 17 Claims. (Cl. 112-2) The present invention is concerned with a work operated system for controlling a sewing machine and asso ciated elements.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a positive system controlled by the proper application of a piece of work to a sewing machine for being sewed thereby and which system starts the sewing machine for the sewing operation and stops the same when the sewing phase is completed while at the same time and in the proper order lower and raise the sewing machine pressure foot and sever the thread at each completion of a sewing of the work without consideration or function on the part of the operator.

A further important object of the invention is to provide a novel air operated make and break electrical switch for controlling electrical circuits.

Another and equally important object is to provide a work guide and switch control for properly guiding work into the sewing mechanism of a sewing machine and concurrently therewith operate the present system and the elements controlled thereby.

A still further object is to provide a novel thread cutter for severing the thread between the work and the sewing machine at the end of each sewing phase on the work.

It is also an important object of the invention to provide means for lowering the pressure foot of the sewing machine at the start of each sewing operation and to raise said pressure foot upon the completion of the sewing operation.

Further objects of the invention will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, wherein;

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a conventional shoe sewing machine with the elements of the present system connected thereto.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a combination clutch and brake unit employed with the present system taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an air operated switch forming part of the present system.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a thread cutter.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of said thread cutter taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an end view of said thread cutter as seen from the right of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is an end view of said thread cutter as seen from the left of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a work guide and switch control.

FIG. 9 is an end view of said work guide and switch control as seen from the left of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of said work guide and switch control;

FIG. 11 is a. longitudinal sectional View taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a modified form of work guide and switch control.

FIG. 13 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken on line 1313 of FIG. 12.

And FIG. 14 is a schematic view of the present system.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like and corresponding parts are designated by similar reference characters, numeral 1 indicates an electric motor connected to an electrical circuit 2 for operating the same and having a drive shaft 3 extending through a combination clutch and brake unit 4. Said motor 1 and unit 4 are connected together by bolts 5.

A pulley 6 is connected to unit 4 as will be more fully described hereinafter. Said clutch and brake unit is more fully described in applicants copending application Serial No. 188,073 filed April 17, 1962.

An endless belt 7 extends around pulley 6 for being driven thereby and is connected to any conventional machine for driving the same. By way of example only a conventional shoe sewing machine is shown in FIG. 1 to indicate one use of the present system. Said sewing machine has for example a pulley 8 around which extends belt '7 for driving the same, a crank arm 9 driven by pulley 8 connected to an operating arm 11 pivotally connected at 11 to sewing machine head 12. Said head has a bifurcated end 13 in which slides a needle bar 14 carrying a sewing needle 15. A clamp 16 is fixedly engaged to needle bar 14- and pivotally connected at 17 to operating arm 10 for being reciprocated thereby.

A pressure foot 13 is connected to piston rod 19 extending within cylinder 2% which cylinder is fixedly connected to bifurcated end 13 of each head with said piston rod 19 extending alongside needle bar 14 and needle 15. Said cylinder 21 has a piston (not shown) slideable therein connected to piston rod 19.

A tube 21 is connected to a source of air under pressure (not shown) and to an adjustable conventional filterlubricator-pressure regulator unit 22, 23 and 24. A tube 25 is connected to lubricator 23 and also to an inlet port 26 of a four-way valve housing 27. Said valve housing has an exhaust port 28 below port 26 and a pair of ports 29 and 3t diametrically opposite ports 26 and 28 respectively.

A piston 31 is slideable within valve housing 27 and has a diagonal passage 32 for connecting ports 26 and when said piston is at the top of cylinder 2'7. Piston 31 also has a second diagonal passage 33 for connecting port 29 with exhaust outlet 28 when said piston 31 is at the top of said cylinder 27. Further piston 31 has a pair of spaced peripheral grooves 31a and 311; with groove 31a for connecting ports 26 and 23 and groove 31b for connecting port 343 with exhaust outlet 28 when said piston is at the bottom of cylinder 27.

A tube 34 connects port 30 with the clutch operating inlet of unit 4 while a tube 35 connects tubes 34 and 36. Tube 36 is connected to the upper end of cylinder 26 at port 37 and also to the end of cylinder 39 at port 38. Cylinder 39 has a second port 40 connected to tube 41 having a tube 42 connected thereto also joined to port 44 at the lower end of cylinder 29. A conventional flow control valve 43 such as for example a Ross Cub Model No. 1968132004 is interconnected in tube 42. A tube 45 is connected to tube 41 and also to a second conventional flow control valve 46 which in turn is connected by tube 47 to the brake operating inlet of unit 4. Tube 45 is also connected to port 2? of said four-way control valve.

A tube 48 joins pressure regulator 24 to one end of a flow control valve 49 which will be explained more in detail hereinafter. Said flow control valve has an operating rod 51) extending from its opposite end and is connected to tube 51 connected in turn to a work guide and valve control such as 52 of FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive or 116 of FIGS. 12 and 13 both of which are explained more in detail hereinafter.

A solenoid 52 is fixedly mounted on the top of valve casing 27 and has a core 54 fixedly connected to piston 31 for raising the same while saidpiston normally remains at the bottom of said valve casing 27 due to gravity.

A wire 55 is connected at one end of solenoid 53 while a second wire 56 is connected at the opposite end of said solenoid. Wire 56 is connected to a conventional microswitch 57 and for example to a fixed contact 58 of such a switch while a pivoted conductor 59 thereof is connected to wire 60. Wires 55 and 60 are connected to a source of electrical current and are bridged by an indicating lamp 61.

The clutch and brake unit 4 as best shown in FIG. 2 includes a clutch plate e2 fixedly connected by pin 63 to shaft 3. A second plate 64 faces clutch plate 2 and has a tubular extension 65 fixedly connected to a third plate 67 by threads 66. Bolts 68 fixedly connects plate 67 with pulley 6. A piston 69 is positioned for engaging plate 67 and is joined by passageway '70 to tube 47. Passageway '71 joins tube 34 with a second piston '72 positioned for engaging plate 64. A friction disc 73 is fixedly connected to unit 4 and also faces plate 64.

The air operated switch as best shown in FIG. 3 has a tubular housing 49 closed at one end by plug '74 in threaded engagement therewith at 75 and having a coupling 7d connected to tube 48 and in communication with a bore 77. A partition 78 extends across the bore of housing 4-9 and has a conical opening 79 into which extends the end '81 of a needle valve 80.

A second plug 82 closes the other end of housing 49 and is in threaded engagement therewith at 83. A resilient diaphragm 84 is stretched across the bore of housing 49 and retained by the abutment of plug 82 therewith while rod 50 is slideable through opening 85 in plug 82 and engages said diaphragm. Said micro-switch 57 and housing 49 are fixedly mounted to any support for example the base 86 of the sewing machine or elsewhere as desired.

The thread cutter 39 has a cap 87 through which slides piston rod 88 connected to piston 89 slideable in said cutter. Said piston rod 88 is pivotally joined at 90 to link 91 which in turn is pivotally connected at 92 within slot 94 to upright 93 fixedly mounted on slide 95. Said slide has an upturned end 96 providing a stop and its opposite end 97 is bifurcated and curves downward providing hooks 98 with a slot 99 therebetween. A knife blade 180 fixedly mounted on base 101 extends within slot 99. Said base 101 has a longitudinal groove 102 in which slides slide 95 and which extends beneath cutter cylinder 39 fixedly connected by weld 39a to base 101. Said base 101 also has a slot 103 through which extends an adjusting screw 104 in threaded engagement with base 86 while a second slot 195 in base 181 has screws 106 in threaded engagement with base 86 for permitting the longitudinal adjustment of base 101 on base 86. Said base 101 is mounted on base as on the far side of needle 15, relative to the direction of feed of the work.

The work guide and switch control 52 as best shown in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive has a slot 107 through which extends thumb screw 108 in threaded engagement with base 86 for the adjustment of the position of said work guide and switch control. A tube 109 connected to tube 51 and block 52a of said work guide and switch control is in communication with passageway 110 and thus port 111 surrounded by G-ring 112. Said block has a curved face 52b extending into an outwardly tapering recess 114 and ending in groove115. A curved plate 113 faces face 52b and has an enlarged pintle shaped end 113a pivotally mounted in groove 115 and retained therein by the narrow end of recess 114, but with plate 113 allowed a slight movement in recess 114.

As an alternative to the work guide and switch control 52, the unit of FIGS. 12 and 13 can be used by connecting axle 116 to tube 51 in lieu of tube 169. Said axle 116 has a bore 117 opening at the lower periphery of said axle at port 118. A stepped support 128 has a slot 122 for receiving screw 108 fastening said support to base 86 and supporting the lower outwardly tapered end 119 of said axle from base 86. A roller 123 has a bore 124 slightly larger than the periphery of axle 116 and has said axle extending therethrough. Said roller bore 124 has an outwardly tapering mouth 125 in which is slideably seated axle end 119.

Either work guide and switch control 52 or 116 is posiioned in front of needle 15 relative to the direction of eed.

A bed plate 126 supports base 86 of the sewing machine while the base 127 of motor 1 is attached thereto by bolts 128.

The four-way switch 27 may be of a conventional type such as for example Ross Pacer Air Valve, Model No. 16l6A200l.

In operation of the present system air under pressure is supplied to pipe 21 and the pressure regulator 24 is set to a desired value such as for example for 40 psi. Electrical current is supplied to circuit 2 energizing motor 1 rotating shaft 3. Electrical current is also connected to wires 55 and 60.

The operator then moves the work, for example a shoe or the like, against and along plate 113 towards needle 15. The pressure of the work against plate 113 moves said plate against face 52b of the work guide and switch control 52 closing port 111 thus stopping the How of air from the flow control valve 49 into tube 51 causing the air pressure entering said flow control valve 49 from pressure regulator 24 by way of tube 48 to back up against diaphragm 84 which stretches upwardly moving rod 50 against microswitch 57 closing conductor 59 against contact 58 whereupon solenoid 53 is energized raising core 54 and piston 31 to their position as shown in FIG. 14.

At this point air under pressure passes from tube 25 through passageway 32 to tube 34 in passageway 71 of unit 4 pressing piston 72 against plate 64 engaging rotating clutch plate 62 and thus rotates pulley 6 and belt 7 driving the sewing machine.

At the same time air passes through tube 35 to the top of the pressure foot control 20 moving said pressure foot 18 down on to the part of the work to be sewn.

Also the air passes through tube 36 to port 38 of the thread cutter cylinder 39 pushing piston 89 and extending books 98 to position beyond needle 15 until stopped by upturned end 96 of the slide engaging cylinder 39.

As soon as the work has been sewn as desired it leaves both the plate 113 and needle 15. The release of pressure on plate 113 causes the same to pivot on its end 113a due to the air pressure in port 111 allowing air to pass from said port as well as from flow control valve 49. Thus the air pressure on diaphragm 84 is reduced whereupon said diaphragm returns to its normal form dropping rod 51 and opening microswitch 57 stopping the flow of current to solenoid 53.

At this point core 54 and piston 31 drop due to gravity and ports 26 and 29 as well as port 30 and exhaust port 28 are placed in communication by peripheral grooves 31a and 31b respectively of piston 31. Thereupon air is directed to tube 47 and passageway 70 of unit 4 pushing piston 69 against plate 67 pulling plate 64 from clutch plate 62 and against friction disc 73 stopping the rotation of pulley 6, and belt 7 and the operation of the sewing machine. Air at that time escapes from passage way 71 through tube 34 and exhaust port 28. The braking action on :belt 7 is controlled by the flow control valve 46.

Also at this time the air passes through tube 45 to flow control valve 43 and into port 44 of the pressure foot control 20 raising the pressure foot as the air in the top of said pressure foot control is exhausted through tube 35 to exhaust port 28.

Simultaneously the air in tube 45 passes to port 40 of the thread cutter moving piston 89 back pulling slide 95 therewith. Thus hooks 98 engage the thread between the work and needle 15 pulling the thread across knife blade 1% severing the thread releasing the work from the sewing machine.

When a new piece of work is applied to plate 113 the same cycle is repeated and as piston 31 resumes the position of FIG. 14 air is exhausted from tube 47, tube 45 as well as port 44 of the pressure foot control and port 40 of the thread cutter through passage-way 33 of piston 31 to exhaust port 28.

In the event the work guide and switch control 116 of FIGS 12 and 13 are connected to tube 51 in lieu of the work guide and switch control, the operation of the present system is the same as described hereinbefore. That is the work is applied to roller 123 on the way to needle 15. Said roller rotates with the movement of the work to said needle and bears against port 118 which extends towards the work and thus stops the flow of air from axial bore 117, tube 51 and the flow control valve 49 closing micro-switch 57 and thus activating the system. As the work leaves roller 123 the air from port 118 escapes between the bore of said roller and the periphery of axle 116 as well as from tube 51 and the iiow control valve 49 lowering rod St and opening micro-switch 57 with the resulting dropping of piston 31 and the resulting effect on the elements associated therewith.

The present system and elements thereof are capable of considerable modification and such changes thereto as come within the scope of the appended claims is deemed a part of the invention.

We claim:

l. A work controlled system for operating machinery comprising a driving motor, an air pressure operated clutch connected to said motor and the machinery and capable of connecting said motor to the machinery to be operated, a housing connected to a source of air under pressure and having an exhaust opening for said air, means controlled by the work for at times closing said exhaust opening when engaged by the work, an electrically operated valve interconnected between said clutch and a source of air under pressure for operating said clutch, an electrical circuit connected to said electrically operated valve, a switch interconnected in said electrical circuit and means carried by said housing operable by the air in said housing when said exhaust opening is closed and capable of closing said switch.

2. A work controlled system for operating machinery comprising a driving motor, an air pressure operated clutch connected to said motor and the machinery and capable of at times connecting said motor to the machinery for operating the same, a hollow housing having an inlet opening connected to a source of air under pres sure, a diaphragm extending across and within said housing, a rod abutting said diaphragm on a side tube operated to said housing inlet opening, said housing having an exhaust opening on the same side of said diaphragm as said inlet opening, an electrical switch positioned for being closed by said rod, an electrically operated valve interconnected between said clutch and a source of air under pressure for operating said clutch, an electrical circuit connected to said valve and having said switch interconnected therein and work controlled means connected to said housing exhaust opening and capable of closing said exhaust opening when engaged by said Work.

3. A work controlled system for operating machinery comprising a driving motor, driving means for the machinery, an air controlled clutch interconnected between said motor and said driving means for at times connecting the same, an air controlled brake connected to said driving means, a source of air under pressure, an electrically operated valve interconnected between said source of air, said clutch and said brake capable of connecting either said clutch or said brake to said source of air, a hollow housing connected to said source of air and having an exhause opening for said air, work controlled means for closing said housing exhaust opening when engaged by the work, an electrical circuit connected to said electrically operated valve and means carried by said housing capable of closing said switch when said exhaust opening is closed.

4. A work controlled system for operating machinery as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means carried by said housing capable of closing said switch consists of a resi1- ient diaphragm extending across the interior of said housing and a rod slideable through said housing abutting said diaphragm and positioned for operatively engaging said 7 switch.

5. A work controlled system for operating machinery as claimed in claim 3 wherein said work controlled means consists of a member having an exhaust port connected to said housing exhaust opening and means moveably carried by said member for movement to said member exhaust port for closing the same when engaged by the work and away therefrom when not so engaged.

6. A work controlled system for operating machinery as claimed in claim 3 wherein said work controlled means consists of a block having a passageway with an exhaust opening connected to said housing exhaust opening and a plate pivotally connected to said block and positioned for closing said block exhaust opening when said plate is engaged by the work.

7. A work controlled system for operating machinery as claimed in claim 3 wherein said work controlled means consists of an axle having a side opening connected to said housing exhaust opening and a roller rotatably mounted on said axle and positioned for closing said axle side opening when said roller is engaged by the work.

8. A Work controlled system for operating machinery comprising a driving motor, an air operated clutch connected to said motor and the machinery, an air operated brake for the machinery, a source of air under pressure, an electrically operated valve interconnected between said source of air and said clutch and said brake for alternately operating said clutch and then said brake, an electrical circuit connected to said valve, a switch interconnected in said circuit and means operable by the work for closing said switch.

9. A work controlled sewing machine comprising a sewing machine, a driving motor, an air operable clutch connected to said motor and said sewing machine, an air operable brake connected to said sewing machine, an air operable pressure foot carried by said sewing machine, an electrically operated air valve, an electrical circuit connected to said valve, a normally open switch interconnected in said circuit, means operable by the work capable of closing said switch, a source of air under pressure connected to said air valve, air conveying means connecting said clutch and said air operable pressure foot to said valve for receiving air therefrom in one position of said valve operating said clutch and moving said pressure foot in one direction, air conveying means connecting said brake and said air operable pressure foot to said valve for receiving air therefrom in a second position of said valve for operating said brake and moving said pressure foot in an opposite direction and said valve having an exhaust port alternately connected to said brake and said clutch air conveying means by the two positions of said valve.

10. A work controlled sewing machine as claimed in claim 9 including an air operable thread cutter positioned adjacent the needle of said sewing machine and being connected to said clutch and brake air conveying means for alternately receiving air therefrom operating said thread cutter.

11. A work controlled sewing machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said air operable pressure foot includes a cylinder connected at one end to said clutch air conveying means and at its opposite end to said brake air conveying means, a piston slideable in said cylinder between said connections and a pressure foot carrying rod connected to said piston.

12. A work controlled sewing machine as claimed in claim 9 including a thread cutter comprising a base, a hook end slide slideable on said base, a knife blade mounted on said base, a cylinder mounted on said base 3,1 7 and connected at one end to said clutch air conveying means and at its opposite end to said brake air conveying means, a piston slideable in said cylinder between said connections and means connecting said piston to said slide for movement together.

13. A work controlled switch comprising a source of air under pressure, an electric switch, a housing connected to said air under pressure and having an air outlet port, a diaphragm extending across and within said housing, a rod abutting said diaphragm and slideably extending from said housing for engaging and closing said switch and work operable means for closing said housing air outlet port.

14. A work controlled switch as claimed in claim 13 wherein said- Work operable means consists of a member having a curved face and a passage opening in said curved face and connected to housing air outlet port and a curved plate pivotally connected to said member and extending across said curved face for closing said passage upon being contacted by the work.

15. A work controlled switch as claimed in claim 13 wherein said work operable means consists of a fixed axle having a side opening and a bore connecting said side opening to said housing air outlet port and a roller loosely mounted on said axle at said axle side opening for closing said side opening when said roller is engaged by the work.

16. A work guide and air operable switch control comprising a fixed block having a curved face and passageway opening in said curved face attachable to the air operable switch and a curved plate pivotally carried by said block and extending across said curved face and said passageway opening for guiding work moving across said curved plate and having said curved plate pivoted against said curved face by said work closing said passageway opening at such times.

17. A work guide and air switch control comprising a fixed axle having an axle bore for a portion of the length thereof and a side opening communicating with said side opening, said axle bore being attachable t0 the air operable switch, a roller rotatably mounted on said axle about said side opening and having a bore slightly larger than the periphery of said axle allowing said roller limited lateral movement for the passage of air from said side opening until pressed thereagainst by the work moving across and being guided by said roller.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,074,065 9/13 Pea ct a1. 192-128 1,905,094 4/33 Hirvonen 192-1252 2,722,276 11/55 Revelle 83-211 2,758,556 8/56 Hopkins 112-239 2,824,436 2/58 Stack et al. 112-252 X 2,871,013 1/59 Markey 226-22 3,098,595 7/63 Shelton 226-22 3,100,069 8/63 Richards et a1. 226- JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WELLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A WORK CONTROLLED SYSTEM FOR OPERATING MACHINERY COMPRISING A DRIVING MOTOR, AN AIR PRESSURE OPERATED CLUTCH CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR AND THE MACHINERY AND CAPABLE OF CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO THE MACHINERY TO BE OPERATED, A HOUSING CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE AND HAVING AN EXHAUST OPENING FOR SAID AIR, MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE WORK FOR AT TIMES CLOSING SAID EXHAUST OPENING WHEN ENGAGED BY THE WORK, AN ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE INTERCONNECTED BETWEEN SAID CLUTCH AND A SOURCE OF AIR UNDER PRESSURE FOR OPERATING SAID CLUTCH, AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRICALLY OPERATED VALVE, A SWITCH INTERCONNECTED IN SAID ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT AND MEANS CARRIED BY SAID HOUSING OPERABLE BY THE AIR IN SAID HOUSING WHEN SAID EXHAUST OPENING IS CLOSED AND CAPABLE OF CLOSING SAID SWITCH. 